PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay Tourism has hit the ground running, hosting several industry networking meetings since its inception on 6 September, and making its mark on social media.
The section 21 not-for-profit company has in the past two weeks visited at least 20 businesses in Kwanokuthula and New Horizons.
These visits are part of its "Township Hop Initiative", to get first-hand experience of the local culture and discover the untapped tourism potential in Plettenberg Bay, according to a media statement issued ahead of its next public meeting to be held at Moby's at 09:30 on Friday 2 December.
A programme produced by 204 TV, a New Horizons-based audio-visual company that posts exposés and mini documentaries on Facebook and YouTube, has indicated that Plettenberg Bay Tourism is hot property on social media - with more than 2 300 hits in just over a week.
Marlene Bartlett, board member for social media and content creation, said that done selflessly and with true passion, all businesses and tourism products can be put on the map in Plettenberg Bay.
"While this process is very time-consuming and a definite labour of love (we are all volunteers), we are definitely reaping the benefits of our efforts in terms of post reach, views, shares and page growth," said Bartlett.
According to Paul Duverge, the founder and chairman of Plettenberg Bay Tourism, the company was formed without municipal funding and driven by volunteers and business people who have a true passion for Plettenberg Bay, the Greater Bitou municipal area and the tourism industry at large.
"The main concern when we formed the section 21 NPC was whether or not two tourism entities could exist within a small community such as Bitou. The answer to this question is a resounding yes! We have certainly been welcomed with open arms. The support we have received transcends misconceptions about our intentions and speaks directly to Ubuntu and the sense of community it creates," said Duverge.
Vuyakazi Kisi, the board member responsible for Township Tourism, said, "The township holds an immense amount of potential. Full of culture and diversity, and we strive to bring the 'kasi flavour' to people."
Bartlett says the result is that all businesses have an equal opportunity to market their product, and Plettenberg Bay as a whole, while benefitting from the experience and knowledge of stakeholders within the set-up of Plettenberg Bay Tourism and its associates.
The organisation has adopted the slogans/hashtags #LovePlett and #TourismInMotion and seems to be proving that there is room for any business that has the best interests of the town at heart.
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